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America
by Mark Stavish, M.A.
Copyright 1996 Mark Stavish, All Rights
Reserved.
Introduction
With his death in 1777, his son, Samuel Danforth, Jr. inherited his
books. However professional pressures of his medical and
scientific careers forced him to donate his father's books to the
Boston Athaenum in 1812. The books are signed by both
Danforths, and are heavily annotated, showing more than three-
quarters of a century of study. Among the twenty-one volumes
were the much standard works to be expected, as well as
Philalethes' Secrets Reveal'd (London, 1699).
The effects of the 'grain of elixir' was instant loss of the powers of
speech and recognition, with convulsions and heavy sweating.
After these subsided, the bedding was changed, and a broth made
of lean beef and a variety of herbs was given. On the second day, a
grain was added to the broth repeating the above symptoms, and
upon which "a delirious fever set in which ended with a complete
loss or shedding of the skin, hair and teeth of the subject." On the
35th day a bath of prescribed temperature was given, and on the
following day, the 3rd and last grain of the materia prima was
given in a goblet of wine. The effects of the final dose were much
more mild, resulting in a deep sleep during which the skin, hair,
and teeth reappeared. On awakening from this ordeal, an herbal
bath was give, and an ordinary bath (with saltpeter added) on the
38th day. On the following day (the 39th) ten drops of the elixir
of life were given in two spoonfuls of red wine. This final dose was
known as the 'grand master's elixir' or balsam. On the 40th and
final day, the initiate was said to have been reborn into primordial
innocence and capable of living 5,557 years with the grace of God
before being called back to the heavenly lodge. The process
however, had to be repeated every forty years in the month of May
if this were to happen.
We are also at a loss for any idea as to who may have survived the
ordeal. However, the effects of the recipe sound strikingly similar
to those given in Paracelsus' writings regarding the Melissa Ens, a
potent spagyric medicine said to convey long life and
rejuvenation.[ix]
Soon after its founding in 1915 in New York City, the Rosicrucian
Order, AMORC, known simply as AMORC, found itself in a variety
of 'authenticity struggles' that would last until the present day.
Behind AMORC's growth and longevity, something many other
organizations have publicly and privately envied, was its claim to
being the only authentic, authorized Rosicrucian body operating
in America. This claim to being the only one and true Rosicrucian
body attracted not only disillusioned seekers from other
organizations, but also attracted new members who felt comfort
and security in the idea of belonging to an organization that had
not only 'traditional' roots in antiquity, but historical ones as well.
Fancy charters from Europe, stories of ancient initiations and the
trials of seeking out the 'secret chiefs' or "Unknown Superiors" of
the Order's High Council in France added to the mystery and the
attraction. Yet, none of this would have been possible if it weren't
for the keen and brilliant mind of the organizations founder, first
Grand Master, and ultimately Imperator (Emperor), Harvey
Spencer Lewis.
After six years of work two mortgages, several explosions, and two
asphyxiations later, Richard states that in 1917, they were able to
produce the White Stone of the Philosophers. McKenzie was
offered a sample of the White Powder, but readily accepted a
sample of the Red Stone. It is not clear why she accepted one and
refuse the other, however, she records her experiences as follows:
"..it was little more - on my tongue, saying it must lie there and
not be swallowed. I immediately noticed an intense bitterness,
which is said to be the gold, but other metals I could not detect. In
two or three seconds it had been absorbed or dispersed, so that
not even a flavor remained in my mouth."
Continuing their search for the Red Stone from 1917 to 1920, the
Ingaleses felt they had achieved success and shared their results
with members of their "renewal club," possibly made up of
investors who supported their alchemical research. At the time of
their discovery and potentizing of the Red Stone, Robert was 66
and Isabella 54 years of age. Richard states that they did not
respond as well as others to the curative powers of the Stone.
However, the usual claims of virility, fertility, and incurables being
cured, are reported. Ms. McKenzie notes that she was unable to
verify any of the Inglases claims in this regard. Richard is quoted
as noting that they were familiar with other alchemists who were
over 600, 400, and 200 years old. All looking and acting as if they
were "about 40 years of age." The most remarkable part of the
story however, is Richard's matter of fact description of the
resurrection of the wife of a prominent physician who had been
dead for thirty minutes.
"Half an hour had elapsed and her body was growing cold. A dose
of the dissolved White Stone was placed into the mouth of the
corpse without perceptible results. Fifteen minutes later a second
dose was administered and the heart commenced to pulsate
weakly. Fifteen minutes later a third dose was given and soon the
woman opened her eyes. In the course of a few weeks the woman
became convalescent, after which she lived seven years."
As for the methods they used, Isabella states that they followed
the methods of Paracelsus, particularly Waite's edition of The
Alchemical and Hermetic Writings of Paracelsus, but no further
details were forthcoming. Several books were written by the
couple, but are very difficult to obtain.
While stories of their longevity survived them, it is quite clear that
the Ingaleses died in 1934, Isabella in May and Richard in
October. Extensive debts were piled against their property, which
included 440 acres of land in San Diego. The property was
awarded to the plaintiff to satisfy the suit, and surprisingly, the
property was acquired by a New Thought group in 1940, being
operated as spiritual center continuously ever since.
It would be nice to believe that Isabella and Richard are still alive
and that their deaths had been faked, but evidence it to the
contrary. Unlike their alchemical predecessors, the age of
bureaucracies was catching up with them. Death certificates on
file in Los Angeles are full of details prior to and immediately
following their deaths, as well as the causes. Maybe this should
be a lesson to would be seekers of immortality, that even if death
can be escaped, or at least delayed, you still need to have a Social
Security Number.
In the first part of the 1940's, AMORC's librarian and later Dean
of the Order's Rose+Croix University (RCU), Orval Graves,
proposed a series of classes on practical laboratory alchemy. In
those early classes, the techniques of Paracelsus were generally
followed, artificial stones were created, and students would often
take turns staying up throughout the night, to regulate the heart of
the furnaces for the herbal work. A great sense of harmony
prevailed. Yet, not all of the results were purely spiritual.
According to Russell B. House, F.R.C., and (at the time of his
writing) member of AMORC's International Research Counsel,
Frater Graves produced for him, at their meeting in June of 1989,
several artificial stones alchemically manufactured during those
early classes. Among the collection was included a large artificial
diamond grown by the late French Rosicrucian alchemist F.
Jollivet-Castelot. Castelot was among the leading practical
alchemists in Europe at the turn of the century. He was past
President of the Alchemical Society of France ( Societe
Alchemique de France) and editor of its journal, La Rose+Croix
(The Rose+Cross).[xv] A photograph of Castelot in his laboratory
has been repeatedly reproduced by AMORC in the front of its
Rosicrucian Manual for its members.[xvi]
Of those gems produced during the RCU days of the '40's, one
topaz was declared by a gemologist to be among the finest he had
ever seen. In addition, Dr. A Whaley, a member of the RCU
faculty at that time, reproduced what was then current
government research on the manufacture of synthetic precious
stones, including diamonds. Aside from esoteric chemistry, the
students of these classes also had a little help from exoteric
chemistry as well. The DuPont company sent some samples of its
synthetic stones, and even revealed 'tricks of the trade'. The B&J
Star Company of San Francisco lent a hand, however, not all of its
methods could be reproduced, as the furnaces at RCU were not
powerful enough.
During this time several articles appeared, and since have been
reprinted, in The Rosicrucian Digest regarding alchemy. Several
by Orval Graves offer considerable insight into the purifying
nature of fire and its esoteric implications.[xvii] As well as several
article from a Hungarian rosicrucian, Victor Scherbak of
Budapest, which dealt with the mythological origins of alchemy,
its relationship to Altantas, Lemuria, and the creation stories in
Genesis.[xviii]
Frater Albertus
It was in 1960 that his first title appeared, under the pseudonym
"Albertus Spagyricus, F.R.C." which included the "Alchemical
Manifesto 1960" declaring the opening of the Paracelus Research
Society. The use of the initials "F.R.C." after his name not only
designates a general rosicrucian connection, but also may have
been an allusion to his having attained a particular status within
the grade system of AMORC. At the Paracelus Research Society
(PRS) Frater Albertus conducted classes on plant, mineral,
metallic, and animal alchemy. In the beginning , classes lasted for
three two-week sessions, and were later expanded for a period of
seven years, under the Latin the titles of Prima, Secunda, etc..
Albertus' specialty was spagyrics, along with antimony based on
the alchemical text, Triumphal Chariot of Antimony. In addition,
Qabalah, and specialized applications of astrology were taught.
Among his students were his former classmate at RCU, George
Fenzke, Hans Nintzel[xx] who was sent there by Israel Regardie
(who also studied with Albertus), and Art Kunkin,[xxi] editor and
founder of the L.A. Free Press, and inheritor of Regardie's library.
After the demise of PRS, Parcelsus College was not the only one
trying to keep alchemy alive. Scott Wilber, an AMORC member
and PRS alumni, founded Alden Research. Presumably taking its
name from H. Spencer Lewis's esoteric name "Alden", it
attempted to verify early alchemical experiments to see if they
matched chemical experiences.
Conclusion
So, as we enter the 21st century, the future for alchemy at least,
looks bright. Maybe with this many people grinding, boiling, and
macerating into the lonely hours of the morning, somebody will
actually find the Philosopher's Stone. If they do, hopefully they'll
break their pledge of secrecy and share it with me!